The development of FromSoftware’s upcoming action role-playing game, The Duskbloods, reportedly spent more time in gameplay prototyping than any of the studio’s other titles.
In a recent video, content creator Ziostorm has shared new details on FromSoftware’s upcoming title. The information comes from known Chinese game journalist Giwin, according to whom The Duskbloods was greenlit before the year 2019 and has gone through a longer period of gameplay prototyping and validation than any of the studio’s other titles to date.
The same Chinese journalist had accurately reported details on Elden Ring bosses like Radahn and Rykard prior to the game’s release. Regarding The Duskbloods, he claimed that the project was greenlit even before the marketing cycle leading up to Sekiro’s release. More importantly, he said that the PvPvE title is packed with “many innovative elements” that the development team is particularly proud of. While The Duskbloods includes both competitive and cooperative player interaction, it reportedly avoids falling into familiar genres like battle royale or extraction shooters. Instead, FromSoftware appears to be experimenting with systems such as contracts, nemesis-style mechanics, and multiple win conditions.
The extended prototyping period suggests that The Duskbloods may end up being FromSoftware’s most experimental game since Sekiro. The developer has yet to offer an update on the game since its reveal. Giwin believes the radio silence from FromSoftware may be intentional, with news possibly arriving only after Night Reign’s DLC cycle concludes. A trailer at The Game Awards is certainly a possibility, especially given the studio’s history of major reveals at the event.
Back in April, during an interview with Nintendo as part of its Creator’s Voice feature, The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that the game was initially being worked on by a small team as a title for the original Nintendo Switch. It’s possible that the move to Switch 2 opened new possibilities with gameplay, which may have led to an extended prototyping period.
The Duskbloods is set for release sometime during 2026 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
